Stallmeyer guided her college on path of enlightened growth

'I hope people will say that, every day she tried to give Thomas More her best'

May 5, 2013

Sister Margaret Stallmeyer , who is retiring as president of Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, built on the campus during her tenure. / The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy

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CRESTVIEW HILLS — A decade ago, Thomas More College was an institution in transition. After a turbulent few years, the outgoing president had stabilized the college’s finances and rescued its accreditation, but the college faced an uncertain future and needed a new leader to set it on the right path.

In what proved to be a monumental decision, the board of trustees turned to one of its own: Sister Margaret Stallmeyer C.D.P., a six-year board member, Thomas More alumna and longtime educator.

Since taking the helm of Thomas More in June 2004, Stallmeyer has grown not only the physical size of the campus, student body and course catalog, but also refocused the liberal arts institution on its core mission of instilling young people with the education and values to become leaders in their communities and in society at large.

“When she came, the college was in flux and the culture was that of instability,” said board chair Jeanne-Marie Tapke. “And through Sister’s calm, consistent guidance, the culture changed to a more positive culture and a can-do culture.”

She has also changed Thomas More in countless smaller ways: from her frequent walks across campus, where she greets students by name, to her unfailing presence in the stands at Saints football games. She is leaving an institution enriched by her calm, steady leadership and student-focused approach to education.

Stallmeyer, 66, of Edgewood, will step down as president on June 30. After bringing stability to Thomas More, she said it’s time for a new leader to take the college to the next level.

“I think we’ve got a strong institution, a good foundation, and a new person with new eyes and new ideas I think is going to be able to move it forward,” she said. “I’m looking forward to what they’re going to do.”

A lifelong love of learning

Unlike many other college and university presidents, Stallmeyer didn’t come up through the ranks of higher education.

The Dayton, Ky., native got her start in education at Our Lady of Providence Academy in Newport, where her high school math teacher inspired her to enter not only education, but religious life.

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At the age of 18, she took her vows with the Sisters of Divine Providence in Melbourne, Ky. Two years later, she graduated from Thomas More’s predecessor, Villa Madonna College, with a bachelor of arts in math and secondary education and a minor in chemistry at a time when few women chose careers in the sciences.

For nearly two decades, she worked as a teacher and administrator at Our Lady of Providence Academy and later at Newport Central Catholic High School. Her greatest joy came when difficult subject matter suddenly clicked with a pupil.

“There is nothing more satisfying than having students come in who don’t like the subject, are scared of the subject, don’t think they can do it, and you all of a sudden start to see the “Ah-ha!” moments in their faces,” she said. “I think I saw those most with sophomores in geometry: all of a sudden, they get it. And it was so rewarding.”

During the late 1980s, the teacher went back to school. Stallmeyer received a degree in canon, or church, law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and embarked upon a decade-long career with the Diocese of Lexington.

“I don’t think we should ever stop learning, and I’m hoping that’s one of the things that our graduates take away from Thomas More College: that learning is lifelong. No degree ever should stop your learning, ever,” she said. “It’s one of the things we try to impress on students: If you like learning, you’re going to keep doing it. You start to see meaning and breadth in what possibilities are opening before you, and how you relate to other people, and how you even understand what else is going on in the world – you’re going to want to learn all the time. And we hope they are.”

A 'quiet and confident' leader

When the board of trustees tapped Stallmeyer to lead Thomas More in 2004, her initial reaction was, “Are you kidding? What are you talking about? My experience in higher education has been as a student,” she told The Enquirer at the time.

As it turned out, that was just the kind of experience Thomas More needed. Those who know Stallmeyer praise how she has brought about positive and wide-ranging change through her quiet, thoughtful leadership.

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“Initially, Sister Stallmeyer brought stability to the college, like many great leaders. She listened, and she talked, and then she addressed issues,” Tapke said. “It’s a quiet and confident leadership, where she turns to people and says, ‘Why can’t we do this?’ Through that, then, she motivates all of us who work with her to take risks, to build.”

The results are evident:

• During Stallmeyer’s tenure, enrollment has grown by 20 percent to about 1,800 students despite the lingering recession.

• The college has added 10 new bachelor’s degree programs and enhanced its career planning services and alumni outreach efforts.

• And the physical signs are everywhere: a new football and athletic complex, a $3.5 million chapel, a new education center at the Ohio River biology field station and newly-renovated science labs.

There are other, less tangible, signs as well.

In 2007, an astonishing 100 percent of faculty and staff contributed to an annual fundraising campaign for student scholarships, raising nearly $28,000. In 2011, more than 6,700 hours of community service were logged by students, faculty and staff during a “90 Days of Service” event to celebrate the college’s 90th anniversary.

A legacy of strength, stability

The affection the Thomas More community feels for Stallmeyer is also evident. At a farewell party last week, more than 100 students, faculty and staff braved a chilly afternoon to say their goodbyes in person, waiting as she took the time to greet each of them by name and exchange a few words.

Mary Dahlhoff, an administrative assistant in the athletics department, has seen quite a few presidents come and go during 30 years at Thomas More.

“She’s one of the best. She’s really good with students; she has an

open-door policy. She’s friendly and she always listens to every side of a story before she makes a decision. She’s a real good person,” Dahlhoff said.

“It’s sad to see her go; she’s been a great influence here at the college. But I wish her all the luck – everybody needs to retire at some point.”

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As just the second female president in Thomas More’s 92-year history, Stallmeyer has been an influential role model to not only female students, but to the entire Northern Kentucky community.

Her deep faith has also provided a powerful example to students, faculty and staff, and some credit her with bringing Thomas More’s Catholic identity “back to the forefront.”

Stallmeyer shies away from using the word “legacy.” But there’s no doubt she will leave a stronger – thriving, in fact – institution much better prepared to meet the demands of higher education in the 21st century.

“What do I hope people say about me when I’m gone? I hope people will say that, every day she tried to give Thomas More her best. And that she was committed to the students, because if I did not show that I was committed to the students, I was not doing what I should be doing; it’s the reason for being here,” she said.

“And I hope, as a result of that, people will say, she left the institution stronger than she found it when she came.” ⬛